A/N: Poof! Here we are. I bring you the trek through Hyrule Castle! And it only took me what, seven chapters? For simplicity's sake, let's imagine this is a book. A big, giant book, and this has been part I of the novel so far. I'll be sure to let you know when we'll get over to part II, so you can at least expect how long this fic will take.

Hopefully, it won't be as long as Anna Karenina. Hopefully.

Let's get going.


Chapter vii

To Dissuade and Counsel

Faint sounds came from above him, but he couldn't make out what they were. It wasn't until later that the metallic clicking of the soldiers' boots became recognizable to his ears. As he climbed the short steps in the dark, with his lantern as his guidance, he came to a halt when he saw a figure patrolling the dark waterway. As his vision accustomed to the dark shadows, he thought he saw a normal soldier making his rounds. However, upon further inspection, Link noticed something was amiss.

The soldier moved erratically, putting too much weight into each of his steps, and turning his head with force. It looked as if he wasn't totally himself, as if he had ingested a drug of some kind. It looked as if he was puppet being led by a few loose strings, but the man behind the curtain was far too entertained with other matters to put all his heart into the show. Link stepped back into the shadows, and approached a small corner in the back of the corridor, trying to find a way through.

It was almost evident that there was no other way but through the enemy combatant. He felt scared, but he also felt furious. His uncle's death had left a gaping hole in his chest, and he was looking to fill it back again, by any means necessary. His steps through the wet tunnel were supposed to be silent, but he didn't put too much effort into it. It wasn't before long when the soldier noticed him, which was, after all, what he had been expecting.

The soldier didn't seem to acknowledge him at first, as he simply looked him over with a blank stare. Not a single word was spoken between the two, as the man clad in armor lunged at the boy dressed in green. Link stepped aside, memories from his sparring sessions flowing through his subconscious. His enemy carried a longer sword, perfect to keep opponents at a distance, while Link's was designed for a more aggressive approach. However, it soon became apparent that not only the man's walk was erratic, but his fighting style too. He growled and snarled, using his sword more as an extension of his arm than a true weapon designed for warfare. There was neither chivalry nor violence in his technique: just a deep hatred for the one standing in front of him, a sort of beast-like quality that hadn't been seen in a long time.

The effort required to best his enemy wasn't much in the end, thought Link. He merely sidestepped his attacks, and parried some of his blows. Only on one occasion he actually needed to push his shield forward as a defensive strategy. The impact hurt his arm, as the older man was strong. However, before he swung his blade again, Link was able to tackle him, sending him backwards against the wall. He knocked aside the soldier's sword, before kicking him in the face. Some blood came out of his mouth, as his eyes closed slowly. The now orphaned boy stood in front of his foe, wondering what to do with him. A part of his mind roared with fury, demanding vengeance for his lost family, while the innocent part called for mercy.

A third voice, a faint one, seemed to urge him to continue. Even if no words were spoken, he recognized these other feelings as that of the voice inside his head. She told him to move forward, or at least, that's what he sensed. She spoke of the power of mercy, and of secrets unknown to him at the moment. After some more inner turmoil, he decided to continue.


The trek through the waterway took him a few minutes more. Some rats crawled through the walls, but paid him no mind. Soon after, he came to a staircase, leading upwards. He could feel a draft coming from above. Sure of himself, he climbed it, and came upon a large field of grass, and the cold drops of rain from the storm.

He had reached the castle courtyard.

More soldiers patrolled the area. All of them were armed with similar swords to the first one he had encountered before. They also had the same gait as the other one: beast-like. He had been lucky with the last one, as he had the advantage of the small area, and of the darkness providing him with a margin of error. Now, he wasn't so sure he could succeed, especially against such numbers. The voice told him to enter through the left side of the castle, as there was a small wall that he could climb thanks to his small feet. Problem was, of course, that he was on the right side of the castle, leaving the matter of the numerous soldiers in the middle of it all.

Link looked at his sword. Could he take them all on? No, he couldn't. Something inside him tried telling him to go forward anyway, because after all, what was the point? Here he was, on the outskirts of Hyrule Castle, with no family or friends left, with a voice telling him to risk his life foolishly. He might as well try to go out in a blaze of glory, and die with honor in this stormy night. Once again though, even if he couldn't see a future left for him, he remembered what his uncle had sacrificed his life for. Putting his sword inside his scabbard, he looked around him. The soldiers had not noticed him yet, since he was still hiding in the bushes. His green clothes provided a great camouflage.

Knowing he was probably mad for doing this, he gave it a shot.

He dragged his body through the grass, for what seemed like hours. Each time, he thought a soldier would notice him; not to mention, controlling his shivers was getting harder each time. He would start coughing any second now. Using all of his willpower, he kept on crawling through the grass and bushes, avoiding the enemies' gaze. He finally reached a wall, with some rocks sticking out from the old structure. He was far enough from the courtyard's main entrance for the soldiers not to notice anything. Link made a jump for his life, and started climbing slowly, making sure not to trip and fall. Eventually, he reached a balcony. Unfortunately, the door was closed off., leaving him with no choice but to cross the outer bridge that connected this balcony with the other one on the extreme right.

As he made the walk, he noticed far too late that a soldier was waiting for him on the other balcony. Before he could attack however, this soldier seemed to respond in a more humane way. He raised his sword and yelled out:

"What? Who's there? Identify yourself!"

A little taken aback by this, Link didn't react instantly. The soldier then continued pressing him for information.

"Are you one of them?" He said.

"What do you mean?"

"Are you one of them?" He repeated. "The soldiers… Are you like them?"

Link lowered his weapon. "Do I look like a soldier to you? Besides, you're a soldier yourself!"

"Yes, but… Everyone seems to be acting strangely tonight. Have you not noticed? Oh, but what in Farore's name I'm saying?! What are you doing here?"

Link doubted if he could even explain himself. He finally started approaching the soldier, partly because he wanted to enter the castle's interior and to be away from the cold rain.

"I was told to go and look for someone being held in the castle's dungeons. I think Hyrule and the royal family are in danger."

"Hmph", the soldier said. "You certainly have a different excuse than most intruders. They mostly say they wanted to steal some money from the castle."

"I'm Link", the boy said, for a minute reverting back to his childish state.

"My name's Viscen. I don't know if what you say is true or not, but frankly, at this moment, I feel as if the world I know doesn't exist anymore."

"What happened?"

"Haven't you noticed it already? Ever since this storm started, each and every one of my fellow men has started acting strange, as if some dark force was... Possessing them, or something."

Link was now standing right beside him. "You mean… As in they're not themselves?"

The soldier sighed. "Seems like it."

"And you… Are you normal?"

"I… I feel as if a voice is creeping inside my head. It almost feels like a worm. I wonder if I'll end up just like them." For a moment he was quiet, as they both watched the pouring rain. "I just wish this was all a nightmare."

Link understood this feeling quite well.

"You said you think the kingdom is in peril, boy?"

"Yes… Yes, sir."

"I think we're already doomed. Go on now, do what you will. It's not like you'll accomplish anything."

Viscen stepped aside, letting Link inside the castle.


If anyone had stepped inside the castle for the first time, they would have been gazing in awe at the sheer size and might of it. Ornate walls and candelabras, golden armors lining the hallways, and marble columns were some part of the decoration one could hope to find in the main hall. Each room stood high and mighty, like a holy relic that swallowed each visitor whole, enveloping them in radiance and wisdom. It was the ultimate gift to the three goddesses. It had been attacked numerous times in the past, but it always seemed to be rebuilt, standing as a symbol of hope and peace across the kingdom.

Even if it was the hallmark for Hyrule, even if the entire world of light would know about its existence, Link didn't have time for this kind of amazement at the moment. His clothes, now covered in dirt from the grass and wet from the rain, moved along as he ran through the corridors, avoiding the gaze of more soldiers by hiding behind the armors near the walls. The being inside his head that claimed to be Zelda led him through the castle, helping him avoid the more crowded areas, and showing him the most efficient way to move downwards into the dungeons. He didn't know how she did it, as there was no exchange of words between them. It almost felt like a natural instinct, as if he had known this castle all his life.

Another staircase appeared. It was located at the back of the castle, and a pervading smell of old came from it. Evidently, this lead to the basement.

As he walked inside the dungeons, he noticed how ancient the whole place was. Just like the castle, it was humongous, but the sense of grandeur was lost. Steep cliffs were the main decoration, and he didn't know where they would lead him. The castle had been built on top of a small mountain; that much he did know, as his house was located there too. This seemed to be the interior of that place, and, instead of feeling holy, it felt cavernous and alien. He was reminded of the waterway through which he had entered. His intuition, or whatever it was, seemed to be getting more intense the more he ventured inside the place. There were small bridges to connect the areas, and some small tables and chairs seemed to indicate that there was a semblance of life down there.

The cobwebs and the corpses seemed to indicate the opposite.

Yes, as he approached the nearby cells, he saw what could only be the remains of the enemies of the Hyrule crown. Link was disgusted mostly by the smell, but the horrific sights made him well aware of just what kind of secrets the royal family had hidden in here, behind closed doors, in a the darkness of the mountain. A voice in his head still showed him feelings of reassurance, that everything would be all right, but he wasn't so sure anymore.

At the end of the jail cells, a set of black doors appeared right before him. Once he opened it, he knew he was in for something different. A small table was set, with some old documents, probably legal statements regarding the prisoners, with a stool positioned by its side. Water and light crept in through cracks in the ceiling and the walls, but it only made the corridor feel more somber and decayed, as if the shadow of the night was the only companion for those imprisoned here. A little beyond the hall with the table, which seemed to be a makeshift guard's office, a pair of broken bars appeared to adorn the entrance to one last hallway containing more jail cells. Something told him that this was it, this was what his uncle had been searching for since the beginning of this nightmare.

As he entered the corridor, he saw another shadow standing at the end of it. It belonged to yet another soldier, carrying another long sword. This one, however, seemed to be guarding something. He was positioned extremely close to the cell on the far left. Was this his objective? He didn't know, but he ran toward the soldier with his full might. Before the man could make any sudden moves, Link attacked him with a shield bash, and knocked the sword off his hand, before leaving him unconscious with yet another bash to the face. It almost seemed too easy.

He turned to look around, and he approached the cell the soldier was guarding. In the darkness, he saw someone, leaning against the wall. It wasn't much taller than him, the figure.

"Hello? Who are you?" Link said, pointing the sword at the figure inside the cell. The uninviting image this pose made didn't once cross his mind.

The figure approached him, slowly, as if it was considering something. Finally, it seemed to settle on a decision.

"You're Link, aren't you?" The voice in the shadows finally said. It belonged to that of a young girl's, and Link recognized it.

"Princess Zelda?" That's all Link managed to say, before the door he had just come through moments ago opened. Heavy footsteps were heard, and the looming figure of a soldier came through, blocking the only exit to the hallway. In his hands, the soldier stepped in fearful armor carried a flail, a weapon too heavy for someone like Link to use. Even worse, he recognized to whom it belonged to.

"Brutus", the boy said, in a frightened whisper.

"I figured something was wrong, after I heard my men saying things like they 'though they had seen someone'. Who are you, boy?"

"Everyone seems to be asking that question tonight", that was the most daring thing Link's brain seemed to produce at the moment.

"Hm… Wait, I know who you are. You're Rusl's nephew. Of all the people who would try to rescue her highness, it would seem like you'd be the least likely option."

Link didn't respond.

"Unless…", Brutus said with a smirk. "Your uncle has already fallen." This made Link's heart sink. "Isn't that his shield? I think I recognize it."

"That's none of your business!" Link yelled. "I can take you on, anyway!"

"Ha! Are you serious about this, kid? Please, look at yourself! What are you wearing, your pajamas? You'd best surrender. If you're lucky, maybe you can share a cell, side by side!"

Link didn't move, and his gaze didn't falter.

"… Very well, suit yourself." With that, Brutus began swinging his flail around the small corridor, closing the distance between the two. Link backed away as far as he could, but he didn't know what else to do. His shield would probably break when that thing collided with it, and he couldn't simply rush in to tackle the man, for not only was he well protected, he was much stronger than Link too.

From the shadows, Zelda spoke: "To your right, the other cell's open! Use it as cover."

Without giving it much thought, Link barged in the other cell, which had a broken door, just in time to avoid Brutus' mighty swing. This didn't stop the man however, as he came and blasted what remain of the bars covering the cell, ready to throw his flail at Link again. The boy was now against another wall, and he couldn't see anything that could help him, until he nearly tripped thanks to a jar that had probably once been filled with water for the prisoner that inhabited that cell. Once again, Link's instincts activated and he instantly grabbed the heavy pot and threw it in Brutus' general direction, knocking the soldier to the ground.

"Argh! You little bastard! I'll kill you!"

Link ran for his life, avoiding the man as he exited the cell and headed for the hall with the table. He wasn't planning on abandoning Zelda; he just needed to find a weapon strong enough to fight Brutus with. The soldier came running after him, though. His helmet had fallen off, and his eyes looked furious. He ran after the boy, flail in hand, and threw it in his general direction, trying to administer the coup de grace.

While his attack failed to hit Link, the weapon's chain managed to strangle his neck. The boy felt a strong grip that barely left him space for breath, and he fell against the table. Brutus tried to pull him backwards, but Link held on to the table, trying to muster up whatever strength he had left to keep himself away from the enemy's grasp. This could not last however, as Link couldn't breathe anymore, and his hands were slipping, for the soldier's strength was too great. Soon, his eyes turned downwards, almost defeated, when he noticed something: His pouch, half open, with the boomerang sticking out of it. Using the last of his strength, Link turned towards Brutus, holding on to the table with his right hand, and pulled out his boomerang.

"Ha! Giving up already, boy? What do you plan on doing? You have no way to hurt me! No way to—

His voice was cut off as the boomerang sped across the room, hitting him square in the jaw, and knocking him to the side. The boomerang bounced back in Link's general direction, and he grabbed it as the chain around his neck fell to the ground. He stood there, over his defeated enemy, a mirror of the one he had just defeated in the waterway, when he noticed the key he had around the belt. It didn't take much effort for him to realize that this was the skeleton key for the cells.

Before he approached Zelda's, however, he spoke to her from the shadows, mirroring her attempts at communication from a distance. "The soldiers, the ones who were patrolling the area, are they the ones who killed my uncle?"

Silence.

"Answer me, please."

"… Yes they were. It seems as if we're too late to stop this."

"To stop what? The fall of Hyrule?"

"Maybe. Agahnim has taken control of the castle, and the soldiers have been put under a spell too."

Link rushed to the cell and started opening it. "Then there's no time! We need to get you out and find the king! Maybe he can—

"The king is dead. My father… He… He's dead too."

Link looked toward the princess, and finally observed her features from a close distance. She was still wearing the same "simple" dress she had worn that morning, but it was covered in dirt. Her golden hair cascaded around her shoulders, and her blue eyes seemed to pierce him like knifes, though there was no coldness in her. Instead, she looked as if she had been crying earlier, and now Link understood the pain she had been communicating all night: it was the same pain he had come to begin to understand just a few moments ago.

Her face, though tired, still looked beautiful, but he tried not to get too carried away while watching her, as he had been taught by his uncle not to look at the princess of Hyrule too much, as she was a person too. Thinking about his uncle though, and the fact that he had been murdered thanks to Agahnim the priest made his rage sweep over him once again.

"Then we need to kill him. We need to kill Agahnim." He didn't even think of asking the girl when had he died or if it was because he wasn't on time.

"No, we cannot." Link had opened the gates, and she was standing there, with a determined pose in front of him. While she was only a year older than him, the growth spurt had made her a head taller than the boy already. "That's out of the question."

"What? Why can't we? He's a murderer!"

"He's much worse than that", she said, with a stern tone. "He's powerful, and he's planning to take control of Hyrule. That's why he needs me, but I think I can find a way to stop his plans. However, I need your help in getting out of here first. Are you going to help me, or are you going to try and face him head on, like many of my father's men tried?"

"I- I want to help you", he said at last. He didn't expect such a cold and calculated way of thinking from the princess. "But could you at least tell me what this is all about? Why does he want to take control of Hyrule? Why does he need you?"

"There's no time for that. I'll explain later. For now, you'll have to trust me."

"… Fine. But I don't know where to take you. My home is surrounded by soldiers, there's no way I'll be able to hide you there."

She shook he head. "You won't need to. I know a way to a secret shelter, but I need your protection. Are you willing to do that?"

"Yes, of course I am." The way he said it was a little eager, but it seemed chivalrous enough for the girl to approve of him.

"Very well. You didn't get to answer my question, though: you're Link, aren't you?"

"Yes I am."

"I'm pleased to meet you, Link. Don't worry about your wounds or your clothes. After we get out of here, you'll be able to get warm."

"Thank you." He hadn't noticed it, but the weight of the night's events had begun to take their toll, as he could barely stand.

"All right. First of all, let's get out of here. Then, we'll head for the throne room."

Link smiled. "That sounds like a plan."

Zelda returned his smile, but she knew deep down that her plan was hanging by a loose thread. She let the boy lead the way, because, in all honesty, it was the safest she had felt in weeks.